Latest news with #SusanHinchcliffe
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Scam warning over government energy-saving grant
People hoping to get free energy-saving upgrades to their homes as part of a government scheme could be targeted by scammers, councillors have warned. Bradford Council has been awarded more than £7m as part of the Warm Homes fund to improve energy efficiency in some of the district's poorest insulated homes. However, concerns have been raised that householders could fall victim to rogue companies posing as official council contractors. Kamran Hussain, the council's spokesman for neighbourhoods and community safety, urged the council officers to "make sure safeguarding is put in place so that these companies are not scamming customers". "Over the years, we have found that many people have been stung through grants that have been implied as coming through the council," Hussain said at a meeting. He said work had in fact been carried out by private companies that were not part of government funding, leading to a "very large bill". Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of the council, said: "If a householder is asked to pay something, it is not a council scheme." She said the council should give out clear information about the programme to ensure residents are not misled. Council officers said the local authority would directly manage the scheme, selecting a single contractor to do the work through official processes. Bradford Council had applied for £27 million from the Government's new Warm Homes scheme but, despite receiving less than requested, it still secured the largest grant awarded to any single council. The authority hopes the project will mirror the success of a previous scheme, which upgraded 635 homes in Bradford with roof and underfloor insulation in 2022 and 2023, and was praised by government officials as a model project. Sarah Ferriby, the council's executive member for healthy people and places, said: "The work will make these homes a lot more comfortable, reduce their fuel bills, and assist in reducing carbon emissions." The scheme will roll out over the next three years, with additional funding potentially available if Bradford exceeds its delivery targets. The funding comes from a £500m national pot for energy performance upgrades and better heating for people living in some of the worst quality privately owned and rented homes. The free work could include new insulation, solar panels or an air source heat pump if suitable. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Warning after trader pretends to be council worker Residents warned over 'real menace' rogue traders
BBC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Bradford scam warning over government energy-saving grant
People hoping to get free energy-saving upgrades to their homes as part of a government scheme could be targeted by scammers, councillors have Council has been awarded more than £7m as part of the Warm Homes fund to improve energy efficiency in some of the district's poorest insulated concerns have been raised that householders could fall victim to rogue companies posing as official council Hussain, the council's spokesman for neighbourhoods and community safety, urged the council officers to "make sure safeguarding is put in place so that these companies are not scamming customers". "Over the years, we have found that many people have been stung through grants that have been implied as coming through the council," Hussain said at a said work had in fact been carried out by private companies that were not part of government funding, leading to a "very large bill". Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of the council, said: "If a householder is asked to pay something, it is not a council scheme."She said the council should give out clear information about the programme to ensure residents are not officers said the local authority would directly manage the scheme, selecting a single contractor to do the work through official Council had applied for £27 million from the Government's new Warm Homes scheme but, despite receiving less than requested, it still secured the largest grant awarded to any single authority hopes the project will mirror the success of a previous scheme, which upgraded 635 homes in Bradford with roof and underfloor insulation in 2022 and 2023, and was praised by government officials as a model Ferriby, the council's executive member for healthy people and places, said: "The work will make these homes a lot more comfortable, reduce their fuel bills, and assist in reducing carbon emissions."The scheme will roll out over the next three years, with additional funding potentially available if Bradford exceeds its delivery funding comes from a £500m national pot for energy performance upgrades and better heating for people living in some of the worst quality privately owned and rented homes. The free work could include new insulation, solar panels or an air source heat pump if suitable. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fresh calls for Council to back national grooming gang inquiry
BRADFORD Conservatives have repeated their calls for Council bosses to back a national public inquiry into child rape gangs. The call came after party leader Kemi Badenoch visited the district to speak to a victim of a Bradford grooming gang, who has called for a full public inquiry that can compel witnesses to give evidence under oath and look at all the issues across county boundaries. But Bradford Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe argued that the recommendations from a previous inquiry into the issue, which took seven years and cost more than £185m, were not implemented by the previous Government, which Mrs Badenoch was a part of. Following the visit this week, Councillor Rebecca Poulsen, Leader of the Conservative and Queensbury Independent Group on Bradford Council said: 'It is disappointing at both a national and local level, to see Jess Phillips MP, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Safeguarding and Violence against Women and Children, along with Councillor Susan Hinchliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, repeatedly refusing to support a full, nationwide, public inquiry with statutory powers into the child rape gangs, particularly when numerous victims, those who support them, Members of Parliament, and 77 per cent of the public have made repeated demands for such an inquiry. 'I want to pay tribute to the victims of this abhorrent crime. "Despite a rapid three-month review by Baroness Casey being announced in January by the Home Secretary, we are nearly into June with no publication of this review. 'The visit to Bradford by the Leader of the Conservative Party provided a clear message that this issue is not going to go away until the victims are put first and the will of the people prevails. 'Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore has been campaigning tirelessly for an independent national inquiry since becoming a local MP in 2019 and has raised his frustration over the Labour Party blocking this at both local and national level. 'We would have thought that all councillors across Bradford would be desperate for a statutory public inquiry in order to alleviate the suspicion and reputational damage that comes with obstructing transparency and whilst we know that some of the Council's failings regarding this issue took place whilst the Council was Conservative-led, that isn't stopping my colleagues and I from calling for an inquiry at a time when victims, more than three in four people and a cross party coalition of senior political figures want a full nationwide public inquiry with statutory powers to call witnesses to give evidence under oath." Bradford City Hall (Image: T&A) She added: 'The truth must come out, even if it means heads might roll; no one other than the victims should be protected. It is incumbent upon all members of the Council to call for an inquiry, and if there is nothing to hide or lose, what is the problem?' Replying to Cllr Poulsen's comments, Councillor Hinchcliffe said: 'We're very clear: child sexual exploitation (CSE) is an appalling crime that blights victims' lives. Anyone who commits such crimes must face the full force of the law. 'The ongoing successful prosecutions of historic CSE cases shows that no matter who you are or when the crime took place, you will be prosecuted. 'In Bradford, we're very open about how we tackle CSE. 'We have published more than 70 reports in recent years, including to cross-party committees, where councillors have asked questions and discussed CSE. These committees are open to the public and the media to attend. "An independently authored review into historic CSE cases in the Bradford district between 2001 and 2021 has been published, and we've worked with our partners to implement the review's findings. 'Nationally, we have already had an independent inquiry into child sexual abuse (IICSA) to which Bradford contributed. 'This inquiry was completed in 2022, took seven years, and cost over £185m. 'The last Government never implemented any of its recommendations. Our ask, and one that we hope all parties share, is that the recommendations from this review are implemented at pace. This is the best way in which we can protect our children in the here and now.' The Home Office has previously said that it is "wholly dedicated to delivering justice for all victims". A spokesperson said: "The grooming scandal was one of the greatest failures in our country's history, with vulnerable young people let down time again and again. 'We have already committed to supporting local authorities through our £5 million fund for local areas, the best practice framework for local inquiries and commissioned a rapid national audit to uncover the true scale of grooming gangs in the UK today, including looking at ethnicity. "We are also making it a criminal offence to cover up any report of child sexual abuse."
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City centre regeneration plans take step forward
Plans to double the size of Bradford city centre, creating an area described as "one of the biggest regeneration sites in the UK", have taken a major step forward. At a forum in Leeds on Wednesday, Bradford Council announced that global consultancy firm Arup had been commissioned to create the "master plan" for the city's proposed Southern Gateway. The scheme involves redeveloping the area between Leeds Road and Manchester Road for new housing, businesses, shops and infrastructure, including tram stations and a possible new "through" railway station for the city. A council spokesman said: "This is a transformational opportunity, bringing with it huge economic and social benefits." The plans for the Southern Gateway were originally announced at this year's UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The master plan, which is expected to be created over 12 months, would look at the requirements of the development, taking into account the city's heritage and need for "landscape enhancements". The project includes plans for £4.5bn of transport upgrades, including trams and a new Bradford railway station. Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, said: "This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will drive growth for the district, strengthen supply chains, boost productivity and attract private investment, ensuring Bradford thrives in a competitive landscape." The master plan would create "a tangible, detailed proposal from street level right the way up to how the new district will work within the city as a whole", she said. "It will be key in terms of attracting future investment." Hinchliffe also highlighted that Bradford was the largest city without direct access to the major north-south railway lines. "A new 'through' rail station in the Southern Gateway is critical to delivering the social and economic benefits of faster travel between regional economic hubs and also to London," she said. "It will unlock opportunities for young people, with faster, easier access to jobs, apprenticeships, and universities." Niall Bourkem, associate director at Arup, said the master plan "reflects the city of Bradford's vision and commitment to creating an inclusive, sustainable, and resilient future". "With the future rail station and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority's mass transit plans providing momentum, the master plan will set out a clear path for new homes, jobs, cultural opportunities and improved connectivity," he explained. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Bradford Council Preferred route of new tram line revealed Station work 'to create world-class gateway' to city
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bradford city centre regeneration plans take step forward
Plans to double the size of Bradford city centre, creating an area described as "one of the biggest regeneration sites in the UK", have taken a major step a forum in Leeds on Wednesday, Bradford Council announced that global consultancy firm Arup had been commissioned to create the "master plan" for the city's proposed Southern scheme involves redeveloping the area between Leeds Road and Manchester Road for new housing, businesses, shops and infrastructure, including tram stations and a possible new "through" railway station for the city.A council spokesman said: "This is a transformational opportunity, bringing with it huge economic and social benefits." The plans for the Southern Gateway were originally announced at this year's UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum, according to the Local Democracy Reporting master plan, which is expected to be created over 12 months, would look at the requirements of the development, taking into account the city's heritage and need for "landscape enhancements".The project includes plans for £4.5bn of transport upgrades, including trams and a new Bradford railway station. 'Unlock opportunities' Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, said: "This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will drive growth for the district, strengthen supply chains, boost productivity and attract private investment, ensuring Bradford thrives in a competitive landscape."The master plan would create "a tangible, detailed proposal from street level right the way up to how the new district will work within the city as a whole", she said."It will be key in terms of attracting future investment."Hinchliffe also highlighted that Bradford was the largest city without direct access to the major north-south railway lines."A new 'through' rail station in the Southern Gateway is critical to delivering the social and economic benefits of faster travel between regional economic hubs and also to London," she said."It will unlock opportunities for young people, with faster, easier access to jobs, apprenticeships, and universities."Niall Bourkem, associate director at Arup, said the master plan "reflects the city of Bradford's vision and commitment to creating an inclusive, sustainable, and resilient future"."With the future rail station and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority's mass transit plans providing momentum, the master plan will set out a clear path for new homes, jobs, cultural opportunities and improved connectivity," he explained. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
